THREE friends have done their bit for the environment by transforming an ornamental coal tub into a mouth-watering strawberry patch for their village to share.
Schoolgirls Jade McMeiken, Alana Hetherington and Jade Haworth gave up time in their holidays to help improve their home village of Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street.
The girls joined neighbourhood wardens in weeding out a disused coal tub planter and sowing fruit plants.
The activities were organised as part of the Fix You project, a programme of environmentally-themed sessions funded by the Safe Durham Partnership.
Natalie Davies, civic pride officer with Durham County Council, said: "We invited the people of Grange Villa to ‘adopt a plant’ and put their gardening skills to the test by injecting new life into pots no longer being maintained.
"Jade, Alana and Jade took up the offer and spent an afternoon preparing the container.
"They have pledged to look after the strawberry plants and aid them to bear fruit, which everyone in the neighbourhood can help themselves to.
"They have created a real focal point for residents of all ages and are great examples of young people lending a hand to improve their environment."
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